Essay: Wisdom
Michelle Mantor and “Remy” – Published in Houston PetTalk, December Issue, 2009 Photo by Evin Thayer WISDOM I’ve had many pets throughout my lifetime. Although I loved them all, a few were uniquely special. When we get a pet, we don’t know what our relationship will be but when we are fortunate enough to have one that transcends many others, it’s an extraordinary journey. I’m lucky enough to have one of those unique relationships with my Briard, Remy. From the time she was a puppy, I found myself thinking of her as an old soul. She always seems to know what to do in various situations. Her ability to discern between when to protect, when to accept, when to have fun or simply when to stay out of the way are always on target. What I’ve come to...
Read MoreEssay: Forgiveness
Michelle Mantor and “Remy” – Published in Houston PetTalk, December Issue, 2008 Photo by Evin Thayer FORGIVENESS It is my deep-seated belief that our souls mature and age over time (like a good wine or cheese) and one of the signs that we are progressing toward maturity is the ability to embrace forGIVEness. Living life in this world challenges us with obstacles and envelopes us with our own construed expectations. So, as we live amongst other souls, undoubtedly we will be hurt, transgressed against and disappointed by others. Our real test of personal growth is to give up the negative feelings, let go of the ill will and seek the positive forces in the situation. The yen and yang of life assures us there is an opposite side of bad and that, of...
Read MoreEssay: JOY
Michelle Mantor and “Sake” & “Remy” – Published in Houston PetTalk, December Issue, 2007. Photo by Gittings PhotographyJOY JOY, along with peace, love and hope, are essential themes in my faith that encompass Advent and the Christmas season. When I sat down to write about JOY, I realized that I could not just write about JOY alone because it is a mysterious and complex term. Is it a state of mind? Is it a momentary feeling? Some may wonder if it’s attainable while others wonder if it’s sustainable. And then I began to wonder why I assigned JOY to myself for this feature story! In my quest to eloquently define and pen beautiful prose about JOY, I started thinking about the things in life that have brought me JOY…the gift of my two...
Read MorePoem: Will I?
I wrote this poem just after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Will I? The earth raged bringing chaos, tragedy, despair and death… We were all together in the churning destruction…babies slipped away, dogs choked on their last gasp for air as the water won the battle, the heat closed in like an angry force taking the weak as they scrambled ever higher to the pinnacle of a structure they once called home… I saw too much. My soul hurts and yearns to erase the images in my mind’s eye. Was this force a divine plan or a random response to all things past? Each will be left to decide on their own… Will I see the hand reaching out for me? Will I grasp the chance of a new beginning? Will I turn bad to good? Will I make mankind a believer in the human spirit? I went back. I had...
Read MoreWelcome
Michelle Mantor's Collected Works“The earth does not belong to us. We belong to the earth.Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of the earth. We did not weave the web of life, we are merely strands in it. Whatever we do to the web we do to ourselves."
- Chief Seattle
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